Media distribution server that presents interactive media to  digital devices

ABSTRACT

A media distribution server presenting interactive media on digital devices, such as mobile devices, PCs, TVs, ebook readers, electronic tablets, etc. and receiving user response interactively. During the presentation of interactive media the user is prompted with multiple choices for their selection, which can be provided using keys (such as softkeys) on the digital device. The media distribution server prepares the subsequent portions of the interactive media and delivers them to the digital device. In one embodiment, the necessary text, graphics, audio and video are assembled and integrated dynamically and is presented on the digital device to the user. Further the user is prompted to approve online purchases, make online appointment requests, show interest in products, etc. while browsing the interactive media on their digital device. The media distribution server supports such activities as necessary.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of, claimspriority to, and makes reference to U.S. non-provisional patent Ser. No.11/977,764, entitled “MEDIA DISTRIBUTION SERVER THAT PRESENTSINTERACTIVE MEDIA TO A MOBILE DEVICE”, filed on Oct. 25, 2007, docketnumber 23053US02. The complete subject matter of the above-referencedU.S. patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference, inits entirety.

The present patent application makes reference to U.S. non-provisionalpatent, Ser. No. 11/821,771, entitled “SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVEUSER INTEREST SURVEY TO USER OF MOBILE DEVICE”, filed on Jun. 25, 2007,docket number BRR200704US02. The complete subject matter of theabove-referenced United States patent application is hereby incorporatedherein by reference, in its entirety.

This patent application makes reference to U.S. provisional patent Ser.No. 60/860,700, entitled “AUDIO GUIDED SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING GUIDANCE TOUSER OF MOBILE DEVICE ON MULTI-STEP ACTIVITIES”, filed on Nov. 22, 2006,docket number BRR2006US07. The complete subject matter of theabove-referenced United States patent application is hereby incorporatedherein by reference, in its entirety.

This patent application makes reference to U.S. non-provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 13/075,144, entitled “MEDIA DISTRIBUTION SERVERTHAT PRESENTS INTERACTIVE MEDIA TO A MOBILE DEVICE,” filed on Mar. 29,2011, docket number BRR2007qaire12-U3. The complete subject matter ofthe above-referenced United States Provisional Patent Application ishereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

This patent application makes reference to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/524,568, entitled “QUESTIONNAIRE NETWORK FORMOBILE HANDSETS,” filed on Nov. 24, 2003, docket number BRR2003US03. Thecomplete subject matter of the above-referenced United StatesProvisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated herein byreference, in its entirety.

This patent application makes reference to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/985,702, entitled “QUESTIONNAIRE NETWORK FOR MOBILE HANDSETS,”filed on Nov. 10, 2004, docket number BRR2003US03-U1. The completesubject matter of the above-referenced United States patent applicationis hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

This patent application makes reference to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/530,175, entitled “QUESTIONNAIRE NETWORK FORMOBILE HANDSETS AND A TRADING SYSTEM FOR CONTRACTS ON USER COMMITMENTSTO ANSWER QUESTIONNAIRES,” filed on Dec. 17, 2003, docket numberBRR2003US04. The complete subject matter of the above-referenced UnitedStates Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated herein byreference, in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This present invention relates generally to a server facilitating thedelivery of interactive media to digital devices in a home network andmore particularly to a server that delivers interactive content as partof a customized service to a plurality of users at home.

2. Related Art

Some media servers are available in the market that employ a NAS(network access server) technology to provide access to a shared storage(such as RAID based storage) from multiple personal computers at home.However, such media servers are of limited functionality and do notprovide a whole lot of value to a user other than as file storage. Forexample, such servers do not distribute interactive media to devices athome. A user cannot generally access interactive media from suchservers. A user cannot do much more than store files, store songs (suchas MP3 songs) and some movies on such servers.

Some routers are available in the market for use at home (such as WiFirouters) that make it possible to provide Internet access to multiplecomputers at home when connected to a broadband modem. These routers aregenerally not capable of receiving some specific data associated withthe user, process it, enhance it to make it useful to the user, and thenpresent it to the user on a digital device associated with the specificuser at home. In general, these routers do not have the capability todistribute data to various digital devices at home, then receiveresponses from those devices and act upon those responses. These routersor the aforementioned media server generally cannot conduct one or morefollow up interactions with an external service provider system or acontent provider system based on the user response to a content that ispresented to a user by them.

Media Servers such as Windows Home Server are currently available in themarket, and some users get them installed at home. The Windows HomeServer makes it possible for multiple PCs to access a common hard-driveoften employing NAS. These servers act as network storage that multiplePCs can share. They are used to store and organize digital memories suchas photos, and media such as MP3 songs in one central location. Suchstored songs can be streamed to Media devices such as TVs, eBookreaders, electronic tablets, etc. The servers are also used to backupthe home computers daily. Data Recovery is possible and a user caneasily restore lost files or even entire hard drive contents in a fewsteps. With some difficulty, a user can share photos and home videoswith friends and family using a built-in website.

However, media servers such as those based on Windows Home Server do notyet provide the ability to share workflows, share different calendarentries from different people living at home, or share data foractivities planned by various members in a family. These media serversdo not facilitate collaborative tasks, collaborative planning and easyconvenient messaging. They do not support leaving messages (for others)by different people in a family, wherein the messages can be reviewed byevery member of the family even if they are addressed to one individual.They do not facilitate checking plans made by others for travel,meetings, etc.

Often, when different people living at a residence all have their ownPCs and use them to perform various tasks and plan various activities,there are no convenient means by which they can share their plans andactivities with each other, other than by emailing notes to each otherover email accounts. Some websites on the Internet make it possible toshare files, but accessing the Internet requires each member of a familyto employ his/her own PC to have Internet service, and then be ableretrieve such files over Internet. Although all the members of a familylive in the same residence, there are no easy mechanisms by which theycan share information, such as plans, task lists, calendar entries, etc.without accessing websites over the Internet, or without emailing filesto each other.

Some people use a home area network (HAN) to connect their digitaldevices at home. These are sometimes referred to as home networks. Ingeneral, a HAN is a network contained within a user's home that connectsa person's digital devices, from multiple computers and their peripheraldevices to telephones, VCRs, televisions, video games, home securitysystems, “smart” appliances, fax machines and other digital devices thatare wired into the network. HANs in general, do not supportautomatically gathering and collating information such as calendarentries from multiple digital devices. Often, they do not have any mediaservers associated with them. Often, they only have a server that a usercan use to save songs and movies. They help with streaming movies fromthe server onto TVs or streaming MP3 songs onto a TV or an MP3 baseddevice. They are very limited in their functionality.

Current home networks or storage servers for home use do not provideeasy to use services to users of mobile devices. They also haveinfrastructure that is rigid wherein it is not easy to create and deploynew solutions. However, the use of mobile devices at home has becomeubiquitous and can be encountered in all walks of life. This is madepossible due the wide coverage provided by wireless networks and theirability to be connected even at home. Mobile devices are typically usedfor voice calls and data access over wireless networks. Thus, there arevery limited uses to which a typical user employs his mobile device, themain usage being voice calls and email access.

Currently mobile devices do not support interactive media effectively. Amicro browser available in some mobile devices makes it possible toenter a URL and retrieve a web page. Some Internet websites can beaccessed using the browser in some mobile devices. Unfortunately, newforms of interactive media are not supported in most mobiledevices—these include questionnaires, audio-assisted activities, etc.

Normally, advertisements are provided on televisions (TVs) andnewspapers. Often they are not interactive in the sense that the usercan view them but cannot do much with these forms of advertisements.Advertisements provided as video clips that are easy to run ontelevision (TV) and computers have been known for a while. However,these are not communicated to mobile devices typically. Some rudimentaryforms of advertisements, in the form of text based SMS messages havebeen recently available. Mobile devices are currently confined to suchlimited text based advertisements. Mobile devices with poor displayresolution are not effective in presenting large forms of media. Ads inthe form of movies and video clips, shown in movies and on TV are notpossible on mobile devices due to technical as well as usabilityreasons.

Current media distribution servers have no control over the media oncedelivered to its clients. They often deliver some form of text or awebpage to a mobile device. Some media distribution servers providesongs for download. Others provide movies for download. Client digitaldevices run some small programs such as an MP3 player or a video playerto receive the songs or movies and play them on the mobile device. Abrowser in a mobile device may have a plug-in for a MP3 player or avideo plugin and may be able to play songs and movies when downloaded bya user who uses the browser.

Present media distribution servers are not customized to deliverinteractive media on the mobile devices to provide uniform servicesacross the entire mobile user community due to the wide difference inthe mobile device hardware architecture. Thus the current mediadistribution server often cannot compensate for the inherent limitationof digital devices, especially those of mobile device architecture. Forexample quite a few types of mass-market mobile devices cannot storelarge plug-ins and process movies and longtime video/audio clips (at therequired display frame rate) unlike personnel or laptop computers. Thisis due to small storage, small system memory and relatively lesspowerful processing circuitry on the mobile devices. This requires adifferent approach to be accomplished by media distribution server indelivering image or audio/video clips on mobile devices. It also makesit necessary to develop new technologies for supporting interactivemedia on mobile devices.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artthrough comparison of such systems with the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theDrawings, the Detailed Description of the Invention, and the claims.Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention madewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective block diagram of the network containing a mediadistribution server, digital devices (such as mobile devices, PCs,set-top-boxes, eBook readers, etc.) and a service provider system and acontent provider system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an interactive media database in accordancewith the present invention is a block diagram of an interactive mediadatabase in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective block diagram of a product and servicedescription module, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a network that operates a mediadistribution server that interacts with a service provider system, acontent provider system and a digital device (such as a mobile device)in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5( a)-(d) are exemplary screens on a mobile device displayedsuccessively to a mobile user, the associated content being delivered bya media distribution server, the exemplary screens facilitating requestfor a product sample, a product trial, a purchase order for a product,etc;

FIG. 6 is an interaction flow diagram describing an exemplary handshakebetween a mobile device in a home network, a media distribution serverin the home network, and a service provider system;

FIG. 7 is an interaction diagram describing an exemplary handshakeduring an online appointment scheduling interaction between a mediadistribution server, a service provider system and a digital device(which is any one of those in the home network—mobile phone, TV, PC,set-top-box, MP3 player, eBook readers, electronic tablets, etc. in thehome network, although this figure is described in terms of a mobiledevice) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for the action performed by the media distributionserver during the delivery of an interactive media to a digital device(such as a mobile device at home), wherein the digital device comprisesa client capable of displaying the interactive media, in accordance withthe present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for actions performed by workflow manager of amedia distribution server, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The number of digital devices (such as mobile devices) being used at atypical home has increased drastically in the last decade. For example,mobile devices are becoming very important as personal devices throughwhich different kinds of information can be accessed by a user, while athome or while outside their homes. Electronic tablets and eBook readersare being used by people to read ebooks. An enterprise or a serviceprovider, using the present invention, can provide interactive media andnew services to a user while the user is at home, wherein theinteractive media and access to new services is provided to the user onone of the digital devices available at the user's house. Thus,distributing interactive media to mobile devices (or to other digitaldevices used by a user at home) makes the access of such information bymobile users more convenient, useful and timely, even when the user isat home. For example, it is possible to propagate information on newsevents and other items of interest to users, and information on newproducts, etc. In addition, employing the present invention, interactivecontent and information associated with services provided by E-business(Electronic business) can be distributed to digital device users athome, which adds a new dimension to access of data and services—suchdata and services can be accessed over digital devices available athome, such as via a mobile device, eBook reader, or via a TV, or even anLCD panel on a refrigerator (and similar appliances).

FIG. 1 is a perspective block diagram of the network 101 containing amedia distribution server 119, digital devices (such as mobile devices,PCs, set-top-boxes, eBook readers, etc.) 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 and aservice provider system 115 and a content provider 117 system. The mediadistribution server 119 and the digital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173are communicatively coupled via a home network 107 and the mediadistribution server 119 employs the home network 107 to distributeinteractive content, collect and collate individual calendar entries,task lists, etc. from the digital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 and topresent user messages (left by a user) available for review by all theother users of the home network 107.

In general, the home network 107 provides communication within ahome/premises to a plurality of digital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173deployed in a house/premises, that are used by a plurality of people(typically residents in that house/premises). The home network 107employs WiFi (802.11 variations) for communication between the digitaldevices 109, 153, 155, for communication between the digital devices109, 153, 155, 163, 173 and the media distribution server 119, etc. Insome embodiments, alternate communication means, such as WiMAX andpowerline, are also contemplated.

Specific features provided by the media distribution server 119 of thepresent invention include communicating interactive media to digitaldevices 109, 153, 155, gathering response from users to theseinteractive media, gathering calendar entries from various individualcalendars from the various digital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 inthe home network 107, collating such calendar data and making a collatedcalendar available for access from the digital devices 109, 153, 155,facilitating message creation for local consumption/review within thehome network, etc. In addition, the media distribution server 119 addsthe ability to manage/update/control the digital devices 109, 153, 155,163, 173 based on an associated calendar entry. These include starting,shutting down, updating content, updating system software, updatingprofiles and registration information, etc. It also supports messagecreation by a user that is displayed/presented to all the other users,and creation and display of annotation/comments to the user createdmessages, etc. In particular, these messages are any combination ofvoice message, images, video, text, etc. It also supports retrieval ofuser task lists from the various digital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173in the home network 107, their collation, and retrieval by interestedusers. In one embodiment, it supports active pushing of collatedcalendar entries and task lists to one or more of the various digitaldevices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 in the home network 107.

In accordance with the present invention the media distribution server119 is capable of interacting with the digital devices 109, 153, 155,163, 173 such as the mobile device 109, a personal computer 153, atelevision (TV) 155, etc. It is also able to interact, over Internet103, with the service provider system 115 and the content providersystem 117. The present invention has made distributing interactivemedia to users over mobile devices 109 an attractive means ofcommunicating the e-business related interactions as well asdistributing various interactive content to a user of a mobile device109, and the media distribution server 119 distributes such interactivemedia and content to the mobile devices 109, TV 155, PC 153 in thepremises/home network 107, and also to other appliances at home (thatare capable of receiving and displaying them, such as a refrigeratorwith an LCD display). Accordingly the interactive media that is to bedistributed to the mobile device 109, the TV 155 and the PC 153 ispreprocessed on the media distribution server 119 and then distributedto the mobiles device 109, the TV 155 and the PC 153, etc. in a moreefficient manner. This approach helps in circumventing the issue oflimited resources (storage, system memory, processor, etc.) on themobile device 109, TV 155, PC 153, and on other appliances at home (thatare capable of digital communication with media distribution server119).

The present invention presents a media distribution server 119 in a homenetwork 107 that is communicatively coupled to the plurality of digitaldevices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 that are deployed in a house/premises,and to other devices at home that are capable of displaying contentand/or interacting with a user. The media distribution server 119accesses Internet 103 and also shares (as necessary) Internet access inthe home network 107 with the plurality of digital devices 109, 153,155. The media distribution server 119 employs a server interface calledthe service and content provider interaction interface 125 forinteractions over Internet 103 with the service provider system 115 orthe content provider system 117 and for receiving an interactive media(from one or both of them). It delivers a first portion of theinteractive media to the plurality of digital devices 109, 153, 155. Itreceives responses to the first portion of the interactive media fromthe plurality of digital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 and it collatesthe responses (and processes them as necessary too). It then conductsone or more follow up interactions with the service provider system 115or the content provider system 117 based on the responses received tothe first portion of the interactive media.

The present invention also supports distributing interactive media suchas interactive animated cartoons, interactive e-books (electronic books,i.e. books in digital form), interactive magazines, etc. by the mediadistribution server 119, wherein the digital devices, such as the mobiledevice 109, comprises a client application capable ofpresenting/displaying them for a user, and receiving user inputs thatinfluence the display of subsequent portions of such interactive media.In one embodiment, the client application is capable of not onlypresenting such interactive media to a user but also locally processinguser inputs and controlling the navigation through the various portionsof the interactive media, or the retrieval of additional portions oralternate portions of the interactive media from the media distributionserver 119.

In particular, the media distribution server 119 receives interactivemedia, such as questionnaires, interest indicator surveys,audio-assisted guided activities, adhoc questionnaires, training videoswith comprehension tests, etc. and inserts one or more advertisementsinto it, before delivery to one or more mobile users on their mobiledevice 109. In one related embodiment, the inserted advertisements aretailored to a user's profile and user's interests and recent purchases.In another embodiment, it is associated with or related to a product orservice regarded as the subject matter of the interactive media, such asan advertisement for a network router that is determined to be relatedto a questionnaire on access points from a company in the networkequipment industry. The media distribution server 119 also selectivelyprovides metadata or configuration along with the interactive mediadelivered, that indicates to a mobile device 109 or to actually a clientcapable of displaying the interactive media the need to play anadvertisement before, during or after the display of the interactivemedia.

Another important feature of the media distribution server 119, inaccordance with the present invention, is the solicitation of a userresponse employing menu items presented or a multiple choice presentedin the interactive media, and the interactions with external systembased upon responses received. For example, the user of an interactivemedia is presented with a multiple choice selection that comprises “makeand appointment” item, and when selected by a user, the mediadistribution server 119 acts upon the user response and communicates theuser response to a service provider to trigger appointment generation.It also, if necessary, forwards an appointment information back to theuser via the mobile device 109. Similarly, purchase requests made by auser by selecting a “make a purchase” multiple choice selection on themobile device 109 is received by the media distribution server 119 andan interaction with an external system, such as the service providersystem or a billing system is initiated, and optionally, an invoice issent back to the mobile device 109 to solicit user review and userapproval, often with the need for the user to enter a PIN code or asecurity code as part of the approval and user authentication process.

The media distribution server 119 comprises a module called product andservice description module which is guided by the inputs furnished bythe service or the content providers and the mobile device users togenerate the next portion of interactive media or a new item (displayedon a screen of the mobile device 109) of interactive media on the mobiledevice 109 display. The selection made by the users are in the form ofmultiple choice and option buttons which is communicated to the mediadistribution server 119 which then, in response delivers a nextinteractive media (or the next portion of the current one) in a nextscreen with perhaps a next set of choices and options. Thus, a user ofthe mobile device 109 participates in the interaction to guide theinteractive media generation using a joystick, softkeys, and thekeyboard (limiting the use of the keyboard is one of the goals) asappropriate on his mobile device.

In one exemplary delivery of an interactive media to the mobile device109, at the beginning, the media distribution server 119 presents a listof interactive media for display to the user of the mobile device 109 ona welcome screen. The user then selects one of the interactive mediafrom the list using the joystick o the mobile device 109 or softkeys. Inresponse to this user selection the media distribution server 119presents the selected interactive media. Thus the user obtains anupdated display with the new interactive media selected which comprisesa corresponding new set of option buttons and multiple choices, etc.Then the user continues to guide the dynamic interactive mediageneration selecting a specific option button, in response to which themobile device receives next portion of the current interactive media ora new one altogether, and so on. Each of the screens presented to theuser comprises come of the softkey (or button) selections: “start”,“info”, “suppl. (for supplementary) info”, “next”, “prey” (forprevious), “print”, “done”, “exit”, “forward”, “select”, etc. On anyscreen, as appropriate, the user can select the “exit” button to exitfrom the current interactive media taking the user back to the welcomescreen on which interactive media list is presented again, or a “done”button to successfully finish an operation, or to quit and go back tothe power-on screen.

The modules comprised by the media distribution server 119 facilitateall the functions necessary to promote e-business interactions andbusiness information flows designed by the service providers 115. Theymake it possible for a service provider 115 to interact with the mobiledevice 109 (and with other digital devices 115, 117 if necessary) andprovide e-business services (sometimes referred to as m-businessservices, which stands for mobile business services). They also enable auser of the mobile device 109 or the TV 157 to conduct mobiletransactions with the service providers 115, such as request a service,request a specific content from a content provide, or to accomplish aparticular task for e.g. an online purchase. The media distributionserver 119 of present invention also comprises an interactive mediadatabase 131 and a transaction database 151 that support suchtransactions, business information flows and content distribution. Theinteractive media database 131 comprises all the new and old interactivemedia that are to be distributed and those that were already distributedin the past, respectively. The transaction database 151 comprises allthe information relevant to the transactions that are completed. Thetransactions in that database comprise those items that are sold online,and also those items for which a trial product may be requested or asample product may be delivered.

The product trial information managed by a product trail manager 139comprises information such as a trial period, a start of trial, an endperiod of the trial, conditions stipulated for the trial period, etc. Abilling and shipping database 155 comprises a billing address and ashipping address for mobile users, especially for those who haveconducted sales transactions using their mobile devices 109.Furthermore, the billing and shipping database also contains informationon whether the marketing company (service providers and contentproviders companies) has shipped the product to a buyer's contactaddress.

The media distribution server 119 of the present invention alsocomprises a user targeting module 153 and an E-mail service module 127.The user targeting module 153 gathers browsing interest and habitrelated history of mobile user which helps communicating relevant typeof interactive media to him/her. The E-mail service module receives theE-mail address part of the user response when the contact details arefurnished by the user and delivers E-mails on important transactionssuch as purchase, appointment, product trial details, licenses,acknowledgement, user confirmation, etc.

The “digital device-service and content provider coordinator module” 121(coordinator module in short) of the media distribution server 119coordinates the exchange of messages and controls information flowbetween the various digital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 9 such asthe mobile devices 109) and the service provider system 115 or thecontent provider systems 117. As the interaction between two entities(such as system, server, client device, etc.) take place in a handshakemode, it always proceeds with a response from one entity (say entity-1)in one direction to another entity (say entity-2). It coordinatesdelivery of a response by a recipient entity in the opposite direction(that is from entity-2 to entity-1) to accomplish an action, and aseries of such action will constitute a task. For example, responseswill be appropriately relayed or forwarded in either directions by thecoordinator module 119.

A busy schedule manager 137 performs scheduling management, i.e. theexchange of message and control information regarding availability andscheduled tasks, between two entities on the network, such as by sensingthe traffic conditions and information delivery expectations. Theinteraction between the media distribution server 119 and (for example)the mobile device 109 or the media distribution server 119 and theservice 115, or the content provider system 117 sometimes requires atracking and scheduling mechanism which is performed by the busyschedule manager 137.

A product trial manager 139 in the media distribution server 119 keepstrack of the details of the sample/trial requests made by the mobiledevice 109 user. The product trial manager 139 assists by prompting auser, on behalf of (or as instructed) the service 115 or contentsprovider system 117 for a sample product delivery or a trial periodestablishment with accompanying product delivery. It also keeps track ofthe trial duration and user feedback during the trial period for furtherfollow up actions.

A product and services description module 141 and a dynamic mediadevelopment module 143 in the media distribution server 119 collaborateto generate the interactive media (or content in general) that isdynamically created and delivered to the mobile user. This collaborationoccurs using the inputs provided by the mobile device users and theinformation provided by the service or the content providers. Theproduct and the service description module 141 has a generic descriptionof the interactive media that describes a product or a service that isaccessed (or consumed) by the mobile device 109 user (for example). Inone embodiment, a generic form of interactive media isassembled/constructed and maintained in a library. The dynamic mediadevelopment module 141 receives inputs from the mobile device users andthe service or the content providers and customizes the genericinteractive media, and subsequently delivers them to the mobile users.Furthermore, in a related embodiment, the dynamic media developmentmodule 141 queues up new interactive media into the “interactive mediadatabase” for the subsequent delivery to the mobile device 109 or toother digital devices 153, 155 in the home network 107.

A workflow manager 145 plays a role of setting up information flow asper a pre-defined work flow. It also establishes reporting tasks,billing tasks, backup and restore activities, communication links, asnecessary. It receives inputs from different entities and respondsappropriately. It prompts an entity (for e.g. a mobile device 109 or thePC 153) with a query and receives its response, and (for example) as pera work flow, forwards it to a service provider system 115 or a contentprovider system 117.

In accordance with the present invention, the interactive media is anXML document comprising multiple items, wherein each of the multipleitems comprises a text, graphics, audio segments, and or video clips,along with interactive elements such as multiple choice sections,feedback section, user input solicitations, user voice input prompts,user digital photo prompts, etc. For example, each of the multiple itemsmay comprise a multiple choice set that is displayed to a user tosolicit user response. User response can also be in the form of arecorded message (digitally recorded by the mobile device 109). Userresponses collated by the mobile device 109, in selections from amultiple choice set for the multiple items, and/or in the form of audioresponse to those items is communicated by the mobile device 109 to themedia distribution server 119.

In accordance with the present invention, in one embodiment, a taggedmessage in the first piece of delivered code (say, in a web programminglanguage) is communicated to the mobile device 109 (or to other digitaldevices 153, 155) and this first piece of code comprises a second pieceof code, such as a script or a program, which selectively executes onthe mobile device 109 (or in those other digital devices 153, 155) afterit has been delivered. When this second piece of code runs on the mobiledevice 109 (for example), it collects some details of user interaction(and other associated information) and sends it back, as a response fromthe mobile device 109, to the media distribution server 119. In arelated embodiment, the first piece of code is an XML based documentcomprising the interactive media and the second piece of code is anexecutable code that collects user responses and communicates it to themedia distribution server 119.

Similarly, the media distribution server 119 also sends code in theinteractive media along with control information or configurationinformation to the mobile device, gathers responses, and communicatesthem to the service provider system 115 or the content provider system117.

In one embodiment, the media distribution server 119 also sends codealong with responses to the service provider system 115 or the contentprovider system 117. The code that is sent by the media distributionserver 119 executes/runs on the service or the content provider system115, 117, and it collects all the interaction information and sends themback to the media distribution server 119.

In one embodiment, the media distribution server 119 delivers code tothe mobile device 109 that determines what is displayed to the user (saywithin a current screen) and the multiple choice options presented. Theresponse to the options selected by the user of the mobile device 109(from the screen) flows back to the media distribution server 119 ascontrol information which helps in preparing a next screen ofinformation or in the assembly or generation of a new piece of code tobe delivered next. For example, the code delivered to the mobile device109 contains a message that will appear verbatim along with some taggedobjects on the screen for e.g. text in the option button and themultiple choice selections. The user response subsequently collectedfrom the mobile device 109 contains the control information which makesthe media distribution server 119 perform a next task (decide on nextcourse of action) for e.g. delivering additional code that ends upcreating a next screen on the mobile device 109 that contains newinformation and user selectable options.

A calendar manager 147 facilitates processing of online appointmentrequests made by a mobile device 109 user and distribution ofappointment information communicated by a service provider system 115 tothe user of the mobile device 109. When a mobile device 109 user makes arequest for an appointment with the media distribution server 119, thecalendar manager 147 of the media distribution server 119 prompts therespective service provider system 115 or a content provider system 117with an instance of iCal data (internet calendar application). Theservice or content provider systems 115, 117 then make entries in theircalendar modules using the iCal data provided and sends it aconfirmation back or an alternate iCal data back to the mediadistribution server 119. The media distribution server 119 forwards theconfirmation information or the alternate iCal data it to the mobiledevice 109 user who had made a request for an appointment. Based on thisiCal data provided, which is stored in the mobile device 109, such as ina calendar client, the mobile user prepares for a meeting as per theentries made in the iCal by the respective service or content provider.The iCal data sent to the mobile device 109 (or a schedule informationin other formats) is associated with a scheduled meeting, such ascheduled meeting being arranged to see a real estate property on sale,tryout a membership at a local fitness center, meet a broker for someinvestment advice, etc. It can also be a schedule for a telephonicconversation, a conference call, an e-mail exchange, an instantmessaging chat, a meeting with an individual, a testing of a service ora content, a meeting with a service provider or a content provider'srepresentative, etc.

The calendar manager 147 is also capable of retrieving individualcalendar entries from the various digital devices 109, 155, 153 (thathave calendar support), collates them, and makes a collated calendaravailable for review, periodic printing, and management. For example,every Monday morning (or on some such user settable day/event) thecalendar manager 147, employing the calendar retriever module 149,retrieves calendar entries from the digital devices 109, 155, 153,collates them into a collated calendar, and prints a copy of thecollated calendar for the current week on a local printer (not shown) inthe home network 107.

The calendar manager 147 is also referred to (in some embodiments) as acalendar sharing module as its main function is primarily to create andshare a collated calendar with the various digital devices 109, 155, 153in the home network. It prevents general access to the shared collatedcalendar from the Internet 103, and only in specific cases, wherein asecure retrieval is authorized by a user, it is made available to thatuser over the Internet 103. In one embodiment, the calendar manager 147executes user tasks (collated into a collated task list by the mediadistribution server 119) one at a time and gathers reports on such tasksas they are executed.

In one embodiment, the media distribution server 119 makes it possiblefor users of the plurality of digital devices to leave a message foreach other, wherein the message comprises one or more elements from aset comprising a textual message, a recorded voice message, a digitalimage and a digital video. A message management module 181 supportscreation of the message one of the users in the home network, and it canbe reviewed by other users. Thus these messages are meant to be reviewedby others of the plurality of users in the home network, at their owninitiative, when they are free. The media distribution server 119 alsofacilitates sharing of plans made by the plurality of users for travel,meetings, with others in the home network. It employs the calendarsharing module 147 to automatically retrieve the calendar entriesperiodically from the plurality of digital devices 109, 155, 153 in thehome network. The calendar sharing module 147 collates the calendarentries retrieved, creates a collated shared calendar that can beaccessed from any of the plurality of digital devices 109, 155, 153, andshares the collated shared calendar.

The message management module 181 makes it possible for a user to leavea message that can be viewed by all users in the home network. Thus itmakes asynchronous communication between residents in a building easy.For example, a mother can leave a message (recording her voice, typing atext and/or taking a photo, for example) to all her children at home,such that they can all review that message as soon as they come home, orwhen they are close to a digital device at home and they choose to viewthe latest messages for them. The message management module 181 flagsavailability of messages for review (such as for the whole day untilcleared, for example) on one or more digital devices in the homenetwork, in one embodiment.

Typically, the calendar manager 147 interacts with the plurality ofdigital devices 109, 155, 153, wherein these digital devices eachcomprise a calendar client that maintains calendar entries that arecreated by and associated with corresponding users. The plurality ofdigital devices 109, 155, 153 is used by one or more individuals from agroup of residents at a house/premises. The media distribution server119 periodically retrieves the calendar entries from the plurality ofdigital devices 109, 155, 153, collates the calendar entries retrieved,creates a collated shared calendar that can be accessed from any of theplurality of digital devices 109, 155, 153, and shares the collatedshared calendar. It can optionally print the collated shared calendarautomatically (and when requested by a user) on a network printer in thehome network (not shown) so that the users in the house can refer to it,as needed. Thus, at any given time, a person in that premises can findout all the commitments, all the meetings, all the plans made by all ofthe people working or living in that house premises, thereby making iteasy for everyone to make additional commitments, plan events, planadditional meetings, etc.

In one embodiment, the calendar manager 147 facilitates creation orregistration of an appointment made by the service provider system 115or the content provider system 117, in response to a request to make anappointment from a user of one of the plurality of digital devices 109,155, 153. Information on such appointments are not only entered into acollated calendar for printing and subsequent review by a user, but alsoactively communicated to one or more of the plurality of digital devices109, 155, 153 (that are associated with that user).

The media distribution server 119 is communicatively coupled to themobile device 109 and service 115 and content provider systems 117, inaccordance with the present invention. The media distribution server 119and the service provider system 115 are communicatively coupled, forexample via the Internet 103. The content provider system 117 and theWiFi/local network 105 (sometimes implemented as a hotspot/access point105) are also communicatively coupled with media distribution server 119using the Internet 103. The mobile device 109 may employ a cellularservice or a WLAN (or even a WiMAX) service to establish communicationswith the media distribution server 119, via the Internet 103.

The WiFi/local network 105 (in some embodiments provided as ahotspot/access point) is further communicatively coupled with the mobiledevice 109. For example, it is communicatively coupled using the antenna107, and the upward and downward wireless links 111 and 113respectively. The WiFi/local network 105 is a WLAN access hotspot, suchas those used for WiFi communications, in one embodiment and is acellular network access point in another. In general, WiFi/local network105 is a wireless digital interface that delivers interactive media fromthe media distribution server 119 and collects the user's response fromthe mobile device 109 (among other activities).

The mobile device 109 has a joystick which aids navigation andscrolling, and softkeys which helps in selecting a menu item from a menulist or a media list displayed. It also selectively employs the joystickand the softkeys to enable user selection from multiple choices providedor form option buttons displayed on a screen displayed on the mobiledevice 109.

The service provider system 115 is a computer or a server through whichservice and product related ads and information are submitted to themedia distribution server 119 via the Internet 103. The content providersystem 117 is a computer through which the content providers delivercontents such as MP3 based songs, video clips, news and event relatedinformation, advertisements, to the media distribution server 119 sothat the media distribution server 119 distributes them among a largecommunity of mobile users.

In one embodiment, the media distribution server 119 insertsadvertisements provided by a content provider system 117 into aninteractive media, such as a questionnaire or a recipe provided by theservice provider system 115, and delivers the combined interactive media(with its embedded or associated advertisement) to the mobile device109.

The media distribution server 119 employs several databases which assistin gathering and maintaining all the media related interactioninformation. For example, it employs the transaction database 151, whichmaintains all the online transaction information such as purchases,product trial and the online appointment related information. It alsoemploys the billing and the shipping database 155 that comprises all thebilling and shipping details for the users and also maintainsinformation on all the transaction conducted on the media distributionserver 119.

The interactive media database 131 contains all the interactive mediathat have been distributed. In particular it stores a reference to olderinteractive media in a queue called old interactive media queue 133 andones more recently generated, some of them yet to be communicated to themobile device 109, referred to as new interactive media, in a separatequeue referred to as the new interactive media queue 135.

The user targeting module 153 is a module which maintains thetransaction history, interactive media access history and habits of anindividual mobile device 109 user so that it can determine if the usermakes a good target for the distribution of a new interactive media.

The E-mail service 127 facilitates the retrieval of the E-mail addressinformation from a user registration database or from a stored userprofile and the communication of invoices, acknowledgements, additionalinformation requested by a user, appointment information, etc. to theuser employing an email address associated with the user. In particular,using the email address of the user, it communicates acknowledgements onevery successful transaction conducted by the user using the mobiledevice 109, such acknowledgement and confirmation often originating atthe service provider system 115 or the content provider system 117.

The coordinator module 121 has a role in coordinating interactionsbetween the mobile device 109, and the service provider system 115 andthe content provider system 117. The role of this module 121 is oftenclosely coupled with the role or function of (i.e. the communicationprotocol set up by) the workflow manager 145. The mobile device responsereceiver component 123 of the coordinator module 121 receives the userprovided response from the mobile device 109, such as multiple choiceselections made by a user or an audio message recorded by the user,during the review of an interactive media by the user on the mobiledevice 109. User selections of items in a multiple choice selection canbe made, for example, employing a joystick on the mobile device 109, orusing the softkeys provided by the mobile device 109 on a screendisplayed to the user. Such user response are, in some embodiments, usedas inputs in generating subsequent interactive media portions, orsubsequent screens by the media distribution server 119. The service andcontent provider interaction interface 125 facilitates the interactionswith external systems, such as the service provider system 115 or thecontent provider system 117, such interactions needed for the retrievalof the service provider's inputs and content provider's inputs. Theinputs that are retrieved by the module 121 are provided as inputs tothe dynamic media development module 143 which uses a generic mediadescription tool, the product and services description module 141 thatgenerates the interactive media using the inputs provided, to queue up anext portion of interactive media (or a new one) in the new interfacemedia queue 135 of database 131, for subsequent delivery to the mobiledevice 109.

The sales transaction manager 129 conducts all the mobile salestransactions and maintains all the transaction related data that mightbe retrieved as a transaction report from the transaction database 151.The transaction report is periodically retrieved by a user of the mediadistribution server 119, such as a manager associated with a serviceprovider or a content provider. The sales transaction manager 129facilitates communication of an invoice to the mobile device 109 forapproval by a user, and communication of sales confirmation by the mediadistribution server 109.

The busy schedule manager 137 helps in the successful delivery of theinteractive media to the mobile device 109 as per a schedule ofdelivery. It also facilitates retrieval of a response from the mobiledevice 109 based on a schedule or based on current traffic conditions.For example, it does this task by tracking the traffic conditions on thenetwork and deciding when it is appropriate to interact with the mobiledevice 109. Proper timing is very essential. When a user triggers abutton on a screen on him mobile device 109 resulting in a responsebeing communicated to the media distribution server 119, the mediadistribution server has to respond back to the user fairly quickly intime—otherwise the interaction is likely to be perceived as tedious bythe mobile user. Shorter the delay in responding to a user initiatedinteraction, the more satisfactory is the user's experience is likely tobe.

The product trial manager 139 responds to all trial requests made by theusers. It facilitates a follow up and maintains information such as thetrial duration, trial conditions, etc. and communicates such informationto both the mobile device user and the corresponding service 115 and thecontent provider systems 117. The service 115 and the content providersystem 117 then make arrangements for the sample product to be shippedto the user's contact address. If it is a software product for which atrail is requested by a user, the trial period for the software is setupautomatically by the product trial manager 139 with associated start andend durations determined, such as a period based on the date a mobileuser makes the request.

The workflow manager 145 sets up a communication link with a predefinedtype of interaction that take place among various entities i.e. betweena mobile device 109 and the media distribution server 119; or betweenthe media distribution server 119 and the service or the contentprovider systems 115 and 117 respectively. Workflow is basically theexchange of data, instructions, control information, and messages, in aspecific order or at specific times among the entities to accomplish aspecific task, for e.g. an online purchase.

The calendar manager (in one embodiment, provided as a webserver basedcalendar module) 147 fields appointment request by a user and sets up anappointment as requested by the mobile device user. For example, whenthe mobile device user makes an appointment request by selecting the“appointment” multiple choice selection on a displayed item (oractivates a button on his screen, the request is sent to the mediadistribution server 119. In response to this, the server 119 invokes aniCal manager 149 that is a component in the calendar manager 147, whichcreates a schedule or a calendar entry which is communicated to themobile device 109 as an iCal instance (in iCal format, for example). If,for a particular service, a service provider system 115 is responsiblefor making appointments, then the calendar manager 147 requests theservice provider system 115 to generate an appointment. It provides theservice provider system 115 details of the mobile user (such as a userprofile) and the specific item(s) of the corresponding interactive media(such as real estate properties of interest) for which the user hasrequested an appointment. Thus, the mobile user is sent an instance ofiCal (internet calendar) by the respective service or the contentprovider systems 115, 117, or by the media distribution server 119,after they have created relevant appointment entries. The server 119,for example, forwards the iCal instance with the entries for anappointment to the mobile device user, that may be displayed to the useron the mobile device 109 in an appropriate screen, enabling the user toprepare/plan for a meeting with a representative of the service provideror the content provider. For example, the appointment can be for atelephonic conversation, a call conference, an E-mail chat, or a meetingin person with the representatives of the service or the contentproviders.

In one embodiment, a client in the mobile device 109 makes it possibleto download and display interactive media from the media distributionserver 119 whenever the user so desires. It also receives notificationsfrom the media distribution server 119 regarding the availability of newinteractive media. In a related embodiment, it gets interactive mediaand other content pushed to it from the media distribution server 119.In particular, it gets recipes from the media distribution server 119and displays it to the user. The recipes are audio-assisted recipes withstep-by-step audio instructions for the various steps of the recipe.These steps are enhanced with graphic aids and textual descriptions ofthe steps and the ingredients used in those steps. Each recipe alsocomes with a list of ingredients that can be viewed by activating an“Info” softkey or button on the screens. In addition, these recipes canbe selectively saved in the mobile device 109. The audio instructionsare typically provided by a chef or a famous celebrity whoseachievements and recipes the user of the mobile device is keen onfollowing (as a fan or a subscriber). The graphic aid for each step canbe graphics (digital image or a photo graph, for example) of a utensil,an appliance relevant to the recipe, of ingredients used, etc. Inaddition, a graphical image of the chef (or the celebrity associatedwith the recipe) is also displayed, such as in a corner of the screen.In another related embodiment, the recipes are video-assisted recipes(providing video clips with audio accompaniment) with step-by-step videoinstructions for the various steps of the recipe. Textual descriptionsof the text are also provided and supplementary information providedcomprising the various ingredients, utensils, dinner placements andappliances.

In one embodiment, the media distribution server 119 assembles one ormore textual, graphics, audio, video and multiple choice content into adelivered interactive media, that has been delivered by a serviceprovider system or a content provider system, creating an assembledinteractive media. It also incorporates one or more advertisements intothe assembled interactive media creating a new/customized interactivemedia that can be delivered to a user of the mobile device 109.

In one embodiment, the mobile device 109 presents a list of availableinteractive media to a user of the mobile device and solicits a userselection. It then retrieves a selected interactive media based on theuser selection, wherein the selected interactive media comprises aninserted advertisement and an “other content”. For example, the othercontent comprises one or more portions of an interactive media, witheach portion comprising a textual component, a graphics component, anaudio component and an optional video component, etc. The mobile device109 displays the inserted advertisement provided in the interactivemedia. It also displays the other content. It can display, based upon aconfiguration provided in the other content, or in the advertisementportion, or even as metadata, the advertisement before, during or afterthe display of the other content. Thus, the mobile device 109 displaysthe inserted advertisement before, after or during the display of theother content based on such configuration information.

In one embodiment, the media distribution server 119 distributes theinteractive media wherein the interactive media is one from a setcomprising a plurality of interactive animated cartoons, a plurality ofinteractive e-books, and a plurality of interactive magazines (othertypes of interactive media are also contemplated). The mediadistribution server 119 communicates the interactive media to at leastone of the plurality of digital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 thatcomprises a client application capable of presenting them to a user,wherein the client application is capable of not only presenting suchinteractive media to a user but also capable of locally processing userinputs and controlling the navigation through the various portions ofthe interactive media. Thus, the digital devices with the clientapplication can play/display interactive media to a user, receive userinputs, use them for navigation through the interactive media, processat least some of the user inputs locally and help user interact furtherwith the interactive media. In addition, the media distribution serverreceives 119 requests for additional portions or alternate portions ofthe interactive media from the client application, retrieves them andcommunicates them to the client application.

In one embodiment, the media distribution server 119 distributesinteractive ebooks to mobile devices, PCs, eBook readers, and otherdigital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 in the home network. Itretrieves them from one or more content provider systems and stores themlocally, selectively, for local access by one or more users. It supportsinteraction with the users based on the interactive ebooks (the contentstherein). In a related embodiment, it also retrieves ebooks per userrequest/selection from the content server, acquires rights to that ebookcopy, stores the ebook copy as well as the rights to it (and is capableof verifying the rights to that copy if required). It gathers userinputs to the ebook portions and provides the next portions, alternateportions, etc. as necessary. It collects user's comments, annotationsand saves it locally associating it with the right portions/sections inthe interactive ebook. It also selectively shares those comments,annotations with one or more content provider systems (or externalservers in general), as necessary, based on user preferences. Thedigital devices 109, 155, 153 are capable of retrieving interactiveebooks from the media distribution server 119 and presenting them to theuser. They are capable of collecting user comments, annotations andcommunicating them to the media distribution server 119. In a relatedembodiment, each of the digital devices 109, 153, 155, 163, 173 comprisea client application that is capable of retrieving the interactivemedia, such as the interactive ebooks, from the media distributionserver 119 and presenting them to the user. They are also capable ofcollecting user comments, annotations and communicating them to themedia distribution server 119.

In one embodiment, the media distribution server 119 is integrated intothe WiFi/local network 105. In another related embodiment, it isintegrated into a router in the home network. In another relatedembodiment it is integrated into a set-top-box 163 in the home network,such as a set-top-box 163 typically connected to the television 155(such set-top-box connection to the television often requiring acommunication link, such as a coaxial cable link, an Ethernet link, orsome alternative link). In yet another related embodiment it isintegrated into a television 155 in the home network. Other forms ofintegration, such as integration with one of the digital devices (suchas PC 153, mobile phone 109) are also contemplated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an interactive media database 201 inaccordance with the present invention is a block diagram of aninteractive media database 201 in accordance with the present invention.The product and the services description module 141 of FIG. 1, inaccordance with the present invention provides the generic content thatcan be customized before delivery to a user of a mobile device. Ageneric content for a product or service may comprise of one or moreportions (one or more types of data, for example), that it typicallyreceives from a service provider system 115 or a content provider system117. Some of these portions may be changed, swapped added or droppedbased on preferences, mobile device configuration, mobile devicecapabilities or customization needs, before it is delivered to themobile device 109. Thus, customized interactive media can be generateddynamical and delivered to a user of the mobile device 109. In oneembodiment, the interactive media are organized in the form of differentlibraries in the interactive media database 203. Interactive medialibraries are categorized based on the nature of online sales andbusiness an E-business company does on the internet.

More common categories of the interactive media libraries are realestate library, product and services library, news and the eventslibrary, cartoon library, dynamically assembled contents and othergeneral category of library. Dynamically assembled contents are theinteractive media generated based on the dynamic content assembly rulesor dynamic assembly of interactive media based on parameters or inputsreceived from different entities. The inputs resulting in the dynamicinteractive media are typically retrieved from the mobile user duringhis interaction with the mobile device 109.

In one embodiment, the interactive media database 203 comprises two mainqueues, one consisting all the new interactive media which are yet todelivered to the mobile devices (such as mobile device 109) and theother consisting of all the old interactive media that have been alreadydelivered to the mobile devices. The new interactive media queue 205 hascategorized libraries such as real estate library 207, product andservices library 213, news and events library 209, cartoon library 215,other types interactive media library 211, and dynamically assembledcontents interactive media library 217. The old interactive media queue219 has all the old interactive media that have already been deliveredto the mobile devices but still maintained for the later reference.

The real estate library 207 contains all the interactive media relatedto the real estate sales and property management business. Wheninteractive media for real estate information is presented to a mobileuser on his mobile device 109, the user is provided an opportunity torequest an appointment. For example, a radio button labeled “make anappointment” is provided, which when clicked communicates a request bythe mobile users to setup an appointment. The workflow manager 145 ofFIG. 1 sets up an appointment generation and schedule communicationtask(s) that processes appointment request from the user and facilitatessetting up of an appointment to see a property advertised (for sale orrental) or meet an individual associated with a service provider.

The interactive media database 203 comprises all the interactive mediathat are referred to or described by the product and servicesdescription module 141 based on content and configuration received fromthe service provider system 115 or content provider system 117.

The product and services library 213 contains all the interactive mediarelated to the products to and services provided by mobilebusinesses/companies. The product information based interactive mediacomprise of a list of products and services wherein each item in thelist can be viewed by the user, one at a time, when the interactivemedia is delivered to the user on his mobile device 109.

The news and event library 209 comprises all the interactive mediaprovided by news organizations and online news publishing systems, thatserve as content providers 117 on the network 101. This librarycomprises content that are basically news in brief, hat can bedynamically assembled into interactive media of interest to the user. Inaddition, they can incorporate different kinds of events, wherein thedetails of the events are short messages on public/private events ofinterest to a user.

A cartoon library 215 contains all the interactive media related to thecartoon art and animated video clips etc. as entertainment online. Anothers category library 211 contains all the miscellaneous interactivemedia. The dynamically assembled contents are the interactive mediawhich are modified and delivered on-the-fly, processing responses andsometimes incorporating instantaneous inputs from the mobile deviceusers.

FIG. 3 is a perspective block diagram of a product and servicedescription module, in accordance with the present invention. Thismodule has generic description of all the interactive media provided asan outline structure or a template with parameterizedcomponents/portions. The parameterized components/portions takes inputsassigned to the parameterized values resulting in specific instance ofinteractive media. The inputs provided are sometimes numbers orsometimes in other nonnumeric form. In one embodiment, the nonnumericform of inputs are the type descriptions, mode of business transactions,product names, product models, product pictures or images, multiplechoice selection inputs by the mobile users, etc., that are assigned asvalues to their respective parameters. These numeric and nonnumericinputs incorporated into a template or a generic media descriptioncompletely describe an instance of interactive media that can bedelivered to a mobile device.

Subsequent interactive inputs provided by both the mobile device userand service or content providers further guide dynamic generation ofinteractive media. This can be used to convert a generic mobile/onlinetransaction into a specific type of task e.g. purchase of a product,appointment request, setting up a trial of a sample product, terminatinga transaction (exit), etc. For example, if an online purchase isconducted by the user, dynamic media description module translates theinteraction into a financial transactions incorporating data such asbilling, payment, service charge settlement, etc. into a specific task.For example, thus task is used for transactions related to purchase of aspecific product by a user, with specific predefined sequence of inputsprovided.

After the complete generation of the interactive media based ontemplates and inputs, it is inserted into an interactive media queuecalled new interactive media queue. The media distribution server 119 ofFIG. 1 distributes it to all the mobile devices. Once an interactivemedia is delivered to the relevant mobile devices, it will be moved toan old interactive media queue after some specific time as a backup.This backup is for later reference.

FIG. 3 is a perspective block diagram of various exemplary server-sidecomponents that are involved in the process of generating interactivemedia dynamically in a distribution server. A product and servicedescription module 303 (141 of FIG. 1 repeated) contains all theinteractive media description in their template form. It comprises acontent and user interaction generator component 309 which receives theinputs from an external content provider system (117 of FIG. 1 repeated)and a mobile device user (109 of FIG. 1 repeated) as it generatesinteractive media specific to the user based on the contentsavailable/accessible. A multiple choice and options component 311receives responses/selections from multiple choice selections made bythe users. Multiple choices are various selections made by the userswhen presented with multiple-choice selections, radio buttons, etc. Thechoices are typically those made by the users before proceeding to anymobile/online transactions. The exemplary multiple choices according tothe present invention are “purchase”, “not interested”, “interested”,and “store in wishlist”. Other types of multiple-choice selectionspresented to a user are also contemplated. For example, if theinteractive media relates to a realty business the multiple choices willbe of the type “make an appointment”, “not interested”, “interested”,“not in this neighborhood”, and “not my type”. Thus, these choicespresented to a user are likely to be vertical market specific too. Inaddition, user selections of screen navigation options, which aretypically the controls selected on the mobile device screen, such as“next”, “prey.”, “forward”, etc. are also supported. These navigationoptions further influence the dynamic assembly/generation of interactivemedia that are relevant to a user.

Additional inputs for a complete description of the interactive mediaare accessed from service and the content provider parameter interface305 (115 and 117 of FIG. 1 repeated), and a mobile device user inputparameters interface module 307 that provides interactive inputsreceived from the mobile device users (109 of FIG. 1 repeated).Images/pictures and graphics inputs are retrieved from the respectiveservice and content providers employing a graphics and picture inputsinterface 321. Also some generic pictures and images are picked asinputs from an internal image and picture library provided by thegraphics and picture inputs interface 321. Other type of inputs tomodule 303 are audio and video clips 323 which are highly efficientmeans of providing interactive media to the mobile devices, inaccordance with the present invention.

Completely described and defined interactive media, that are based ontemplates and dynamically assembled, are queued up in a queue called thenew interactive media queue 313 (135 of FIG. 1 repeated) for thesubsequent delivery on the mobile devices 109 of FIG. 1. The newinteractive media queue 313 is like a stack of items or objects thatoperate according to a distribution scheme, such as a first in first outscheme. This means that an interactive media which is stacked first intothe new interactive media queue 313 will be delivered first to themobile devices 109 of FIG. The interactive media such as interactivemedia-1 315, interactive media-2 317, interactive media-3 319, etc. inthe new interactive media queue 313 will remain active for a specifiedduration of time and will be removed after that and taken to a backupcalled old interactive media queue 133 of FIG. 1 for later reference.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a network 401 that operates a mediadistribution server 401 that interacts with a service provider system403, a content provider system 413 and a digital device (such as amobile device) 405 in accordance with the present invention. The mediadistribution server 407 assembles and generates the interactive mediausing various inputs from the other entities and accomplishes the taskwith a two-way communication with those entities. For example, itreceives commands (instructions, control information, messages, etc.)from an entity and generates messages for that entity to accomplish atask. The user generated interaction signals are typically provided frommobile display screens made available on the mobile device 405, such asby the user choosing multiple choices presented, or selecting on optionbuttons using the softkeys on his/her mobile device.

The interaction between a digital device 405 and the media distributionserver 407 typically start with the media distribution server 407delivering a list of available interactive media to the mobile device405. The mobile user using the digital device 405 initiates subsequentinteraction with the media distribution server 407 by selecting asuitable choice from his/her screen which results in a response message(shown by an inward arrow) towards the media distribution server 407. Inresponse to this user selections/choices the media distribution sever407 prepares new multimedia/interactive media content (to be presentedin subsequent screens based on the options selected) and communicatesback such content (shown by an outward arrow) towards the digital device405. Further selections made by the user on the subsequent mobilescreens will result in a similar response from the media distributionserver 407. Such interactions are continued until a predefined task iscompleted. Also the task maybe terminated by selecting an “exit” or a“done” button from the screen on the mobile device 405 at any time.

In some embodiment, the interactive media delivery process is initiatedwith the request made by a service provider or a content providerinteracting (online or through some other means) the media distributionserver 407 (administration) for marketing products or services, or forsome business assistance such as for placements of an ad (oradvertisement). In this process, the service or the content providers,employing the respective service provider system 403 or the contentprovider system 413, share their product and the service details(generally electronically online) with the media distribution server 407(in a predefined format). This information forms the basic requiredinput for the product and services description module 141 of FIG. 1.Using this initially shared information, the product and servicesdescription module 141 generates the interactive media and puts it in aqueue to be delivered to the mobile devices 405.

The display screens for the interactive media on the mobile device 405are data driven, and are facilitated by a client component. Being datadriven, they undergo further modifications as dynamic data/content isassembled and delivered to the mobile device 405 by the mediadevelopment module 409 based on interactive inputs from the mobiledevices, in accordance the present invention. And subsequently acontinued participation of mobile user in interaction processsuccessfully accomplishes the objective (business or service) task. Inthis continued interaction between the mobile device user and the mediadistribution server 407, the service or the content providers are alsoinvolved through user requests forwarded to them or solicitations formore information forwarded to them by the media distribution server 407.

The block diagram 401 of FIG. 4 shows the two-way interaction amongvarious entities that are involved in the delivery of the interactivemedia to the digital devices (such as mobile devices). The mediadistribution server 407 (119 of FIG. 1 repeated) has its essentialcomponents shown such as the dynamic media development module 409 (143of FIG. 1 repeated), and digital device-service and content providercoordinator module 411 (121 of FIG. 1 repeated). The media distributionserver 407 is communicatively coupled with the digital device 405 toaccomplish the two-way viz. the upward 419 and downward 421 interactionsrespectively. The media distribution server 407 also comprises acalendar manager 431 that facilitates gathering, collating and creatinga shared collated calendar based on calendar entries retrieved from thevarious digital devices, such as the digital device 405. It alsocomprises a task gathering and execution manager 433 that facilitatesgathering, collating and creating a shared collated task list based ontask list entries retrieved from the various digital devices 405. Italso executes these tasks from the shared collated task list(selectively, as necessary) and generates a report for the tasksexecuted that can be reviewed by the users (if necessary). The sharedcollated calendar and the shared collated task can be viewed by allusers in the home network, often from any of the available digitaldevices 405 (such as a TV, set-top-box, PC, mobile device, eBook reader,and even appliances that are connected to the home network, andcommunicatively coupled to the media distribution server 407).

For initially providing content and associated meta information, and forsubsequently providing additional content in the middle of a userinteraction process, the service provider system 403 (115 of FIG. 1repeated) employs a two-way communication viz. the upward link 417 (frommedia distribution server) and the downward link 415, respectively.Similarly for a media or content propagation using the mobile devices,the content provider system 413 (117 of FIG. 1 repeated) also employs atwo-way interaction viz. upward link 423 and the downward link 425respectively with the media distribution server 407. The upward and thedownward communication protocols are set up using the workflow manager145 of FIG. 1. These protocols are predefined for all the possibleinteractions during interactive media delivery.

FIG. 5( a)-(d) are exemplary screens on a mobile device displayedsuccessively to a mobile user, the associated content being delivered bya media distribution server, the exemplary screens facilitating requestfor a product sample, a product trial, a purchase order for a product,etc. Some of the screens presented to the user comprise an interactivemedia list from which a user can select an interactive media, whereineach interactive media comprises an associated welcome screen, text andgraphics in different screens, and user selectable menu items, inaccordance with the present invention. Due to small display on mostmobile devices, it is not appropriate to present interactive media withlot of textual descriptions. This necessitates different forms ofpresenting interactive media on the mobile devices, and the presentinvention facilitates audio-assisted and video assisted interactivemedia.

In order to avoid cluttering the screen on the mobile device,descriptive audio and/or video clips provided with most of theinteractive media are delivered to the mobile device andrendered/played, in accordance with the present invention. Audio guidedinteractive media have the advantage of being localized to thelocale/language of the mobile user, as the mobile user can listen tomedia description in a language of his choice. In another embodiment ofthe present inventions video clips are associated with the interactivemedia to augment the corresponding product/service descriptions (whichmay have text and graphics too) more effectively.

In one embodiment, the computational resource limitation on the mobiledevices is circumvented by an interactive screen generation facilitysupported by the media distribution server 119 of FIG. 1. Everyscreenful of information is retrieved from a portion of interactivemedia delivered to the device. The interactive media is assembled orgenerated by the media distribution server, in portions based onprevious user selections and preferences, and then delivered to themobile device. For example, in the display of one exemplary interactivemedia, the first screen is the “Welcome” screen containing the list ofall the interactive media. The users start interaction by selecting aparticular interactive media of his choice from the welcome screen, inresponse to which another screen containing various options on thatparticular product or service will be delivered by the mediadistribution server to the mobile device. Subsequent screens deliverportions of the particular interactive media selected by the user, theportions being based on the user's choice or options made on the currentscreen using his/her mobile device softkeys.

Exemplary screens 528, 501, 530, and 532 of FIG. 5( a)-(d) respectivelydepict successive displays provided to the mobile device of the user,wherein the user is able to select one of a list of interactive media,the list delivered to the mobile device by the media distributionserver. The list, in a related embodiment, is provided by the mediadistribution server in response to an user's request for interactivemedia.

The mobile device display screen 528 of FIG. 5( a) is a welcome screenfor a client component that facilitates viewing of interactive media.The welcome screen often plays a jingle, provides a “splash” screen,prompts users to login selectively, and makes it possible for a user toselect interactive media that can be delivered by the media distributionserver to the mobile device. It provides a category list for interactivemedia list 513. The exemplary categories are products and services, Realestate, news and events, cartoons, etc. Each of these categoriescomprise interactive media of respective type which a user can selectusing softkey on the mobile keypad of the mobile device.

The option softkey buttons on the mobile device display screen 528 arethe Start button 515, Info button 517, Next button 519, Done button 521,Print button 523, Suppl. (supplementary) Info button 525, Exit button534, and Select button 527. A user selects various soft buttons usingthe softkey 531 from the keypad 542. In FIG. 5( a) the mobile device hasthe screen area and the keypad 542, which contains various keysincluding the joystick 531, a call connect key 529 (also used as softkeyfor menu item selection) and a call disconnect key 533 (also used assoftkey for menu item selection). In one embodiment, the buttons (515,517, 519, 521, 523, 525, 534 and 527) are replaced by corresponding menuitems selectable using the softkeys 529, 533 and the joystick 531.

FIG. 5 b is an exemplary display screen 501 of the mobile device that isdisplayed when a user selects product and services category 505 in thedisplay for FIG. 5 a. For example, a user can select the product andservices category for relates interactive media items using the selectbutton 527 (or a menu item) after optionally browsing up and down thelist using the joystick 531. In response, the mobile device displays alist of items 537 comprising references to products and services. A usercan highlight one or more of them using the joystick 559, and selectingthem using the appropriate key such as 557. A keypad 544 containsvarious keys and the joystick 559. For example a call connect key 557and a call disconnect key 561 can be used as softkeys with the functionsof selection and cancel assigned to them.

The list of items 537 comprises a list of product and services items539, 541, etc. The option buttons (which are provided as selectable menuitems in a different embodiment) on this screen are a Start button 543,an Info button 545, a Next button 547, a Prey (previous) button 549, aPrint button 551, a Forward button 553, an Exit button 536 and a Selectbutton 555. Use of other buttons are also contemplated. An user selectsvarious menu items or buttons using the joystick 559 from the keypad 544and associated softkeys 557, 561.

The exemplary mobile device screen 530 of FIG. 5( c) is the screendisplayed when the user selects one of a list of products and servicesdisplayed to the user on the mobile device. For example, from the screendisplayed in FIG. 5( b) comprising a list of product and services, theuser can select one of them and, in response, the screen 530 isdisplayed. The screen 530 comprises a textual and graphic displaysection 563 and a multiple choice display section 565. The location,relative positions, size and other characteristics of these two sectionsare configurable, and changeable. The mobile device also provides akeypad 546 which contains various keys such as the softkey 598, a callconnect key 597 and a call disconnect key 599.

The textual and graphic display section 563 on the exemplary screen 530of the mobile device displays information on the product and serviceitem-1 selected in the screen of FIG. 5 b. The associated multiplechoices displayed are Make Appointment 567, Sample Order 569, PurchaseOrder 571, Interested 573, Trial 575, Store in wishlist 577, Not in thisNeighborhood 579, and Not my Type 581 options. Other sets of multiplechoice selections can be supported. Both exclusive and multipleselections are supported.

The exemplary option buttons displayed on this screen are a Start button583, an Info button 585, a Next button 587, a Prey (previous) button589, a Print button 591, a Suppl. Info button 593, an Exit button 538and a Select button 595. A user selects various soft buttons using thesoftkey 597, 599 provided or the joystick 598.

In the exemplary screen shown in FIG. 5 c, if the user were interestedin requesting a sample or in ordering deliver of a sample (such as afree sample of a product), the user would highlight the menu item entryor button Sample Order 569 (if a the menu list is displayed, theappropriate item in the menu list can be selected). Such selections ismade for the item, such as sample order 569, using the select button 595(for example). In response to this the media distribution server 119generates and delivers a next portion of the interactive media, asnecessary, which would be displayed in an exemplary mobile devicedisplay screen of FIG. 5( d).

The exemplary mobile device screen 532 of FIG. 5( d) provides details ofa sample order 502 requested by a user. For example, if the user selectsthe menu item Sample Order 569 displayed in FIG. 5 c, the details of thesample order are presented to the user in screen 532, wherein the useris prompted to provide a shipping address 506 and other relatedinformation. In FIG. 5( d) the mobile device presents the sample orderscreen section 502 and a list of items section 504. Using a keypad 548which contains various keys along with a joystick 524 a call connect key522 and a call disconnect key 526, the user can enter the prompted dataand interact with the screen.

In one embodiment, the screen for sample order requests 502 comprises asection “List of Items” 504 that makes it possible for a user to providea shipping address information 506 comprising a label street address,city, state, country, and zip code. The mobile device user enters thoseitems and selects the “Send” option button (or alternatively, a menuitem) to deliver this information to a remote media distribution server,in accordance with the present invention.

The user selects the Send button 508 using the softkey 524 (for example)from the keypad 548 to proceed to communicate the shipping address tothe media distribution server, such as the media distribution server 119of FIG. 1. The media distribution server in response forwards thisinformation to a corresponding service provider system. The serviceprovider system arranges the delivery of a sample to the user. Thesample is delivered employing the furnished shipping address. Aftersending the shipping address in the screen 532, user selects the Exitbutton 540 to return to the Welcome screen 503 of FIG. 5( a). Inaddition, the user can also select a Done button 510 to return to thepower-on screen.

In general, the selection of the Start button enables the interaction onany screen. The selection of Info button furnishes the information onthe selected item, such information provided in audio/voice form to theuser. If the Suppl. Info button is activated by a user, additionalinformation on the selected item, (such as a product or service) isprovided, such supplementary information comprising informationprovided, as necessary, in textual, graphics and audio formats. Forexample, the supplementary information provided can be a combination ofa textual description of a product or service, that is also accompaniedby an audio description (such a human voice describing the product orservice). In some cases video clips describing the selected item in moredetail is provided.

In general, the Next and Prey buttons are used for the navigationpurpose from screen to screen. The Done button takes is used to exit theuse of the client application, thereby taking the user to a main screen,such as a power-on screen. The select button typically selects an itemthat is currently highlighted in a list presented to a user. The printbutton helps to print the current screen content on a printer, forexample, employing a Bluetooth communication means. The Send buttonsends the current screen content, which the user has entered, forexample, back to the media distribution server or to some other server,as relevant. The Forward button forwards an interactive media to anothermobile device, or to another user.

FIG. 6 is an interaction flow diagram describing an exemplary handshakebetween a mobile device 605 in a home network, a media distributionserver 603 in the home network, and a service provider system 607. Theexemplary handshake is associated with a mobile purchase event initiatedby a user of the mobile device 605, such as by the selection of apurchase option by the user on a screen presented comprising a productor service details with a multiple choice selection comprising apurchase option. This interaction and flow of associated informationover appropriate communication protocols is set up by a workflow managerassociated with the media distribution server 603. Thus, an option topurchase an item currently on display on the mobile device is providedto a mobile user.

In general, the workflow manager associated with the media distributionserver 603 receives inputs from different entities and respondsappropriately. It prompts an entity (for e.g. a mobile device) with aquery and receives its response. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, tagged media control information, message options, etc.(using a web programming language code for example) is communicated tothe mobile device 605. The web programming language code also comprisesanother piece of code which runs from the mobile device screen. Whenthis piece of code executes on the mobile device screen, it collects allthe interaction information and sends it back as the response from themobile device to the media distribution server. The media distributionserver then presents it to the workflow manager, which determines thesucceeding step in a work flow. Similarly, the media distribution server603 also communicates a second code comprising appropriate queries andmessages and even some control information) to the service providersystem 607 or a content provider system. The second code that is sent bythe media distribution server 603 running on the service provider system607 or the content provider system collects all the interactioninformation needed and sends it back to the media distribution server603 for processing.

In general, an interactive media list is delivered to the user of themobile device 605 on a welcome screen/splash screen of a clientapplication in accordance with the present invention. Based upon thislist, the user makes a selection of the interactive media of hisinterest and starts interacting with the presented interactive media, bychoosing different portions, providing user inputs, and triggering audioinformation play, video information display, graphics display, multiplechoice selections, etc. The user interaction depends on the screen viewpresented to the user on his mobile, some of which is in response to theuser's previous interaction.

The generation of the interactive media starts with the service or thecontent providers delivering the product details comprising product orservice parameters to the media distribution server 119 of FIG. 1. Forexample, the parameters provided describe a new product, new service ora new interactive media.

The interaction diagram 601 of FIG. 6 explains the interaction sequenceinvolved between a media distribution server 603 (such as 119 of FIG.1), a mobile device 605 (such as the device 109 of FIG. 1), and theservice provider system 607 (such as 115 of FIG. 1). Each of theemerging skewed arrows from an entity indicates information flowassociated with a current response corresponding to a current screendisplayed on the mobile device (or, in general, on any digital device inthe home network). The skew in the arrow lines indicates exemplary timedependencies in the interaction process. The flow of information ispresented in an exemplary timeline 655 to indicate the chronology ofactions taking place in the FIG. 6.

In one embodiment, the service provider system 607 provides the newproduct description information 619 to the media distribution server603. The product and services description module 141 of FIG. 1 generatesnew interactive media and puts it into the new interactive media queue135 of FIG. 1. The media distribution server 603 delivers thisinteractive media 609 from the new interactive media queue 135 of FIG. 1on a welcome screen to the mobile device 605. A mobile user selects aninteractive media item from the list presented. This selection responseis communicated to the media distribution server 603 as an openinteractive media 611 message, in response to which the mediadistribution server 603 delivers the next portion of interactive mediain which it presents a message 613 prompting the user ti make aselection from a product list. On an associated screen, the user makes aselection, to respond with a product chosen 615 message, which iscommunicated back to the media distribution server 603. On a nextportion of the interactive media delivered by media distribution server603, there is a message 657 containing a purchase option. In response tothis portion of interactive media, the user responds by a selecting thepurchase option and thereby making purchase request 617, communicatingthe message to the media distribution server 603.

The purchase request is made by selecting the product from the productlist on its screen which opens a new screen containing the multiplechoices such as “purchase”, “not interested”, “interested”, and “storein wishlist”. Mobile user selects the “purchase” option using softkeyson his mobile device keypad. This results in conveying a purchaserequest 617 message to the media distribution server.

Upon receiving the signal 617, the media distribution server generatesnext portion of the interactive media (to be displayed in a next screento the user, for example). For example, this next portion of theinteractive media may prompt the mobile user to approve of a purchaseorder, representing the user with the detailed price information 621message. It may also subsequently prompt the user to provide pay modedetails 623. For example, the user may be presented with a screenprompting the user to provide approval on the price and specify the modeof payment. The mobile user provides the online pay details 625information which is communicated back to the media distribution server603. In response to the pay details sent by mobile user the mediadistribution server 603 sends such invoice details information 627 andat the same it delivers acknowledge purchase and pay message 639 to theservice provider system 607. Subsequently the media distribution server603 dispatches acknowledge invoice message 641 to the service providersystem 607 and initiates product delivery modes message 629 to themobile device 605.

Basically the product delivery mode is the way through which the productis going to be delivered to the mobile device user. The user is promptedwith multiple choice options to be selected by the user. The user makesa selection generating the delivery request message 631 to the mediadistribution server 603. The media distribution server 603 forwards thismessage as a forwarded delivery request 643 to the service providersystem 607. Upon receiving the message 643 the service provider 607delivers the confirmed delivery request 645 message to the mediadistribution server, which it forwards to the mobile device as aforwarded confirmed delivery request message 633.

On the day or time when the service provider dispatches the mobilepurchased product for delivery to the mobile user, the service providersystem 607 communicates a product dispatched message 647 to the mediadistribution server 603, which it delivers as the forwarded productdispatched message 635 to the mobile user. On the day or time when theuser receives the product, the mobile device 603 (actually theappropriate client application in the mobile device 605 or in otherdigital devices) sends a product received acknowledgement message 637 tothe media distribution server 603, which the media distribution server603 delivers as a product received acknowledgement message 649 to theservice provider system 607.

Once the media distribution server 603 sends the product receivedacknowledgement to the service provider, it starts processing theservice charges due to the service provider. It prompts for details ofservice charges sending the message 659 to the service provider system607, in response to which the service provider system 607 communicatesservice charges online along with paid service charge message 651delivered to the media distribution server 603. The media distributionserver 603 confirms the receipt of the service by acknowledging theservice provider with a message 653. This completes the chronology ofthe purchase workflow managed by the workflow manager associated withthe media distribution server 603.

FIG. 7 is an interaction diagram describing an exemplary handshakeduring an online appointment scheduling interaction between a mediadistribution server 703, a service provider system 707 and a digitaldevice 705 (which is any one of those in the home network—mobile phone109, TV 155, PC 153, set-top-box 163, MP3 player, eBook readers 173,electronic tablets, etc. in the home network, although this figure isdescribed in terms of a mobile device) in accordance with the presentinvention. A generated interactive media list is delivered to the mobiledevice 705 on a welcome screen. Upon this the user makes the selectionof the interactive media of his interest and starts interacting bychoosing from the presented options or multiple choice selections. Uponmaking the selections from the welcome screen interaction flow is likelyto be dependent on the selections made. In one embodiment, the usersinteraction depends on the screen view delivered on his mobile device inresponse to his previous interaction on which the set of option buttonskeep changing from screen to screen (see FIG. 5) depending on therequirement. A workflow manager (such as the workflow manager 145 ofFIG. 1) associated with the of media distribution server 703 decides theflow of interactions or the chronology of the exchanged messages andcontrol information tagged and sent using appropriate code, andaccordingly the mobile screens are modified and delivered to the mobiledevice 605.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for the action performed by the media distributionserver during the delivery of an interactive media to a digital device(such as a mobile device at home), wherein the digital device comprisesa client capable of displaying the interactive media, in accordance withthe present invention. In general, the media distribution serverreceives the product and service description parameters from the serviceor the content providers and generates a new interactive media. Newlygenerated interactive media are stored in a new interactive media queue135 of FIG. 1. The media distribution server 119 of FIG. 1 samples thenew interactive media queue and delivers all the new interactive mediaas a list to the mobile devices. Initially, a user responds by selectingthe interactive media list from the welcome screen and optionallyselecting specific interactive media for further interaction. Anyselection or the request made by the mobile device 109 user of FIG. 1 iscommunicated to the media distribution server 119 of FIG. 1. Whileviewing and interacting with the currently displayed interactive media,the user can select exit or done button to go back to the welcome or thepower-on screen, respectively.

The media distribution server receives the user response when the userselects any of the multiple choice or option buttons on a screen. Thenthe media distribution server prepares a next screen or message, or anext portion of the interactive media and delivers it to the mobiledevice for display to the user. In this process it also receivesexternal inputs from the service or the content providers, wheneverrequired. The media distribution server modules process the external andthe user inputs and generate the interactive media that is subsequentlydelivered to the user on the mobile device.

In general, the user interacts with the interactive media (actually theclient displaying the interactive media) on the mobile device, makingchoices, selecting from presented options, such selections made usingthe joystick and/or the softkeys provided on the mobile device keypad.Each time the user makes a choice from a screen it is either collatedfor subsequent delivery or immediately communicated back to the mediadistribution server. A new screen with a next portion of the interactivemedia is then presented to the user, or a new information/message isgenerated dynamically and delivered to the user by the mediadistribution server.

Processing of a user's request for an interactive media starts at astart block 803. At next block 805 the media distribution servergenerates the interactive media based on the external inputs provided bythe service or content providers. It distributes the generatedinteractive media to the mobile devices. At next block 807, the mediadistribution server receives response or inputs (or control informationfor generation of a next portion of an interactive media, or a nextscreen generation or action) from the mobile device user. Based on thisresponse or user input, the media distribution server generates a nextportion of an interactive media or performs the next action.

At the subsequent decision block 809 the media distribution serverchecks whether the user has responded by selecting the “exit” button. Ifthe user has responded by selecting the exit button, the processingcontinues at a next block 805 to delivers the welcome screen with theinteractive media list. Otherwise, processing continues at the nextdecision block 827 where the distribution server checks whether a “done”button is selected by a user.

If at the block 827, the media distribution server finds that the donebutton has been selected, then the media distribution server deliversthe power on screen at a next block 829; else it processes the user'sresponse and prepares for external interactions (with the service or thecontent providers) in a next block 811.

Then, at the next block 813, the media distribution server promptsservice or the content providers for the external inputs and receivesthem at a next block 815. Subsequently at a next block 817, it updatesinteractive media with new inputs and delivers them on the mobile deviceagain as a next portion of an interactive media, or as a new screen withnew message on it. It receives the user's options and makes decision togenerate the next screen at a next block 819. At next decision block 821the media distribution server checks whether the current interaction isthe last one needed in accomplishing the task, such a purchase, aproduct trial request, etc. If not, processing is passed to the nextblock 807 to receive the mobile users response and continues; elseprocessing continues at a next block 823 where the media distributionserver prepares to coordinate assembling of a shipping information. Forexample, information related to shipping of the purchased item isassembled by interacting both with the mobile device user and theservice or the content providers.

At the next block 827 the media distribution server coordinates thebilling of the purchased items and settlement of the payment.Subsequently at a next block 825 the media distribution server promptsfor the settlement of the service charges, in response to which theservice or the content providers makes arrangement for online settlementof service charges. The receipt of service changes is acknowledged bythe media distribution server. Then, the processing continues at theblock 805 where the whole sequence of the operation is repeated.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for actions performed by workflow manager of amedia distribution server, in accordance with the present invention. Forexample, the workflow manger 145 of the media distribution server 119 ofFIG. 1 sets up the required communication protocol for the exchange ofmessages and control information across the network between the mediadistribution server and the mobile device; and between the mediadistribution server and the service or the content providers systems.The portions of the interactive media displayed in relevant mobiledevice screens, that is generated and delivered to the mobile devices,depends on the choices a mobile user selects from the current screen.Important multiple choices in this exemplary description of workflowmanager operation are the “appointment”, “purchase”, “interested”,“trial”, “store in wishlist”, “not in this neighborhood”, and “not mytype”, in accordance with the present invention.

On selection of any one of these multiple choice item a predefinedsequence of the message and control information exchange takes placeusing the web programming code (for e.g. XML) results in a predefinedsequence of the screens delivered to the mobile device to accomplish apredefined task (for e.g. an online purchase).

Flowchart 901 of FIG. 9 describes an exemplary operation performed bythe workflow manager 145 of the media distribution server 119 of FIG. 1.The process starts at a block 903. Then, at a next block 905 theworkflow manager delivers a message in the form of interactive medialist that is typically presented to a mobile device user on a welcomescreen, such as on the mobile device 109 of FIG. 1. In response to this,the work flow manager instructs the media distribution server 119collects user response, such as a user response provided after openingan interactive media screen and the selecting option buttons on it. Uponreceiving the selected option information from the mobile device, at anext decision block 907 it tests whether the option selected is the“done” button from a current screen. If it is found to be true, then itprocess the next screen as the power-on screen at the block 931 todeliver to the mobile device, otherwise processing continues at a nextdecision block 909.

At the decision block 909 it tests whether the selected option is anonline “appointment” button. If it is true, then the workflow manager145 of FIG. 1 sets up an “appointment” communication protocol at theblock 933 and the corresponding chronology of actions are prompted toaccomplish that task, otherwise it goes to the next decision block 911.If it's found to be a “purchase” option made by the user at 911, thenthe workflow manager 145 of FIG. 1 sets up “purchase” communicationprotocol at the block 935 and the corresponding chronology of actionsare prompted to accomplish that task, otherwise, the processing proceedsto a next decision block 913.

In the decision block 913, if it's determined that the multiple choiceselection by the user is an “interested” option selected by the user,then the workflow manager 145 of FIG. 1 sets up “interested”communication protocol at the block 937 and the corresponding chronologyof actions are prompted to accomplish that task, otherwise processingproceeds to a next decision block 915. At the decision block 915, ifit's determined that the multiple choice selection made by a user is a“trial” option made by the mobile user, the workflow manager module 145of FIG. 1 sets up “trial” communication protocol at the block 939 andthe corresponding chronology of actions are prompted to accomplish thattask, otherwise, processing proceeds to a next decision block 917.

At the decision block 917, if it's found to be “sample” option made bythe user, then the workflow manager 145 of FIG. 1 sets up “sample”communication protocol at the block 941 and the corresponding chronologyof actions are prompted to accomplish that task, else it goes to thenext decision block 919. At the decision block 919, if it's found to bethe “wishlist” option made by the mobile user, the workflow managermodule 145 of FIG. 1 sets up “wishlist” communication protocol at theblock 943 and the corresponding chronology of actions are prompted toaccomplish that task, otherwise processing proceeds to a next decisionblock 921.

In the decision block 921, if it's determined that the multiple choiceselection made by a user is “not in this neighborhood” option, theworkflow manager 145 of FIG. 1 sets up “not in this neighborhood”communication protocol at the block 945 and the corresponding chronologyof actions are prompted to accomplish that task, otherwise processingproceeds to a next decision block 923. At the decision block 923, ifit's determined that the user's multiple choice selection is “not mytype” option made by the mobile user, the workflow manager 145 of FIG. 1sets up “not in my type” communication protocol at the block 947 and thecorresponding chronology of actions are prompted to accomplish thattask, otherwise processing proceeds to a next decision block 925.

At decision block 925, if it is determined that the multiple choiceselection or user selection of a menu item is an “exit” option selectedby the user, then the workflow manager 145 of FIG. 1 restores welcomescreen on the mobile display at the block 949, otherwise processingproceeds to a next decision block 927. At the decision block 927, if itis determined that the user selection of a multiple choice set presentedor a user selection of a menu item displayed is a “forward” option, theworkflow manager module 145 of FIG. 1 sets up “forward” communicationprotocol at the block 951 and the corresponding chronology of actionsare prompted to accomplish that task, otherwise processing proceeds to anext block 953 where it restores the welcome screen on the mobile devicedisplay. Then, from the block 953 processing proceeds to the next block905 from where it continues again.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the terms “operablycoupled” and “communicatively coupled,” as may be used herein, includedirect coupling and indirect coupling via another component, element,circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, the interveningcomponent, element, circuit, or module does not modify the informationof a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/orpower level. As one of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate,inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another elementby inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two elementsin the same manner as “operably coupled” and “communicatively coupled.”

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention.

One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functionalbuilding blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and componentsherein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components,application specific integrated circuits, processors executingappropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

Moreover, although described in detail for purposes of clarity andunderstanding by way of the aforementioned embodiments, the presentinvention is not limited to such embodiments. It will be obvious to oneof average skill in the art that various changes and modifications maybe practiced within the spirit and scope of the invention, as limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A media distribution server in a home network communicatively coupled to a plurality of digital devices deployed in a house, the media distribution server comprising: the media distribution server accessing Internet and sharing Internet access in the home network with the plurality of digital devices; a server interface for interactions over Internet with a service provider system or a content provider system and for receiving an interactive media; the media distribution server delivering a first portion of the interactive media to the plurality of digital devices; the media distribution server receiving responses to the first portion of the interactive media from the plurality of digital devices and collating the responses; and the media distribution server conducting one or more follow up interactions with the service provider system or the content provider system based on the responses received to the first portion of the interactive media.
 2. The media distribution server of claim 1 wherein the responses to the first portion of the interactive media comprise multiple choice selections made by users.
 3. The media distribution server of claim 2 wherein the multiple choice selections comprise selections to make an appointment, selections to make a purchase or selections soliciting additional information.
 4. The media distribution server of claim 3 wherein the digital devices are one or more from a set of digital devices comprising mobile devices, personal computers, televisions, set-top-boxes, digital video recorders, routers, tablet devices, receiver units and mp3 players.
 5. The media distribution server of claim 1 further comprising: the media distribution server dynamically assembling a next portion of the interactive media in reaction to the responses to the first portion of the interactive media received from at least one of the plurality of digital devices, for delivery to the at least one of the plurality of digital devices.
 6. The media distribution server of claim 5 wherein the next portion of the interactive media comprises one or more of text, an audio clip, graphics, and a video clip.
 7. The media distribution server of claim 1 further comprising: a workflow manager; the workflow manager coordinating the assembly of a next portion of the interactive media and associated metadata for delivery to at least one of the plurality of digital devices based on a response received from the at least one of the plurality of digital devices.
 8. The media distribution server of claim 1 wherein the media distribution server dynamically assembles the first portion of the interactive media as a combination of a text, a graphics an audio and a video clip that are collectively delivered as a tagged message along with an optional program code for processing and display by at least one of the plurality of digital devices.
 9. The media distribution server of claim 1 further comprising: a dynamic media development module for assembling interactive media; the dynamic media development module receiving inputs from at least one of the plurality of digital devices, the service provider system and the content provider system and assembling the interactive media; and the dynamic media development module inserting an advertisement comprising at least one of text, graphics, an audio clip and a video clip into the interactive media for delivery to the at least one of the plurality of digital devices.
 10. The media distribution server of claim 9 further comprising: a product trial manager; and the product trial manager facilitating a trial of a product or a service presented in at least one portion of the interactive media.
 11. The media distribution server of claim 9 further comprising: a calendar module that facilitates creation or registration of an appointment made by the service provider system or the content provider system, in response to a request to make an appointment from a user of one of the plurality of digital devices.
 12. The media distribution server of claim 9 wherein the dynamic media development module receives inputs provided by a user of one of the plurality of digital devices and assembles, based on content and information provided by one or both of the service provider and the content provider, new interactive media for delivery to the user.
 13. The media distribution server of claim 12 wherein the inputs provided by the user as a response to a query message sent by the media distribution server in the new interactive media comprises a multiple choice selection.
 14. The media distribution server of claim 13 wherein the inputs provided by the user to the query message is communicated to one of a service provider system and a content provider system.
 15. The media distribution server of claim 1 wherein the media distribution server selectively delivers with the first portion of the interactive media one or both of metadata and configuration information to indicate to a receiving digital device when an advertisement is to be played in relation to presentation of the first portion of the interactive media.
 16. The media distribution server of claim 15 wherein when the advertisement is to be played is selected from the group comprising before, during, and after presentation of the first portion of the interactive media.
 17. The media distribution server of claim 1 wherein the media distribution server presents supplementary information to the user, when requested, wherein the supplementary information provides additional details regarding interactive media or a subset thereof currently displayed.
 18. The media distribution server of claim 1 wherein the media distribution server comprises a product trial manager that facilitates selection of a product or service trial by soliciting a trial period comprising one or both of a start of trial date and an end of trial date, and wherein the product trial manager manages delivery of a product or a service for such a trial.
 19. The media distribution server of claim 18 wherein the product trial manager tracks trial duration and user feedback regarding the product or service on trial by a user during the trial period, for further follow up actions.
 20. The media distribution server of claim 1 wherein a user response received from a digital device in response to presented interactive media is in the form of an audio response.
 21. The media distribution server of claim 1 wherein the media distribution server dynamically generates interactive media by converting one or both of a generic digital transaction and a generic online transaction initiated by a service provider into a specific set of tasks.
 22. The media distribution server of claim 21 wherein the specific set of tasks comprises one or more of the following mobile facilitated activities: purchase of a product, request for an appointment, set up of a trial of a sample product or service, terminate a trial of a sample product or service, and process feedback from user.
 23. The media distribution server of claim 1 wherein the media distribution server facilitates requesting an appointment in response to interactive media presented on a digital device of a user, and wherein the appointment request is communicated by the media distribution server to an external server which provides an appointment schedule that is communicated back to the digital device of the user by the media distribution server.
 24. The media distribution server of claim 1 further comprises: at least one of the plurality of digital devices comprising a calendar client and maintaining calendar entries associated with corresponding users, wherein the plurality of digital devices is used by one or more individuals from a group of residents; and the media distribution server periodically retrieves the calendar entries from the at least one of plurality of digital devices, collates the calendar entries retrieved, creates a collated shared calendar that can be accessed from any of the plurality of digital devices, and shares the collated shared calendar.
 25. A media distribution server in a home network communicatively coupled to a plurality of digital devices deployed in a house, the media distribution server comprising: a calendar sharing module; the calendar sharing module automatically retrieves the calendar entries periodically from the plurality of digital devices, collates the calendar entries retrieved, creates a collated shared calendar that can be accessed from any of the plurality of digital devices, and shares the collated shared calendar; the media distribution server accessing Internet and sharing Internet access in the home network with the plurality of digital devices; a server interface for interactions over Internet with a service provider system or a content provider system and for receiving an interactive media; the media distribution server delivering a first portion of the interactive media to the plurality of digital devices; the media distribution server receiving responses to the first portion of the interactive media from the plurality of digital devices and collating the responses; and the media distribution server conducting one or more follow up interactions with the service provider system or the content provider system based on the responses received to the first portion of the interactive media.
 26. The media distribution server of claim 25 making it possible to deliver the interactive media to one or more of the plurality of digital devices based on the collated shared calendar.
 27. The media distribution server of claim 25 facilitating automatic retrieval of any plans, task lists and calendar entries available in any of the plurality of digital devices, collation of such retrieved plans, task lists and calendar entries to create collated data, and sharing of the collated data over the home network with the plurality of digital devices.
 28. A media distribution server communicatively coupled to a plurality of digital devices on a home network, the media distribution server comprising: a message management module that makes it possible for users of the plurality of digital devices to leave a message for each other, wherein the message comprises one or more elements from a set comprising a textual message, a recorded voice message, a digital image and a digital video; the message management module supports creation of the message by one of a plurality of users in the home network for review by others of the plurality of users in the home network; the media distribution server facilitates sharing of plans made by the plurality of users for travel, meetings, with others in the home network; a calendar sharing module wherein the calendar sharing module automatically retrieves the calendar entries periodically from the plurality of digital devices, collates the calendar entries retrieved, creates a collated shared calendar that can be accessed from any of the plurality of digital devices, and shares the collated shared calendar; and a server interface for interactions over Internet with a service provider system or a content provider system and for receiving an interactive media that it subsequently distributes to one or more of the plurality of digital devices.
 29. The media distribution server of claim 28 further comprising: the media distribution server distributes the interactive media wherein the interactive media is one from a set comprising a plurality of interactive animated cartoons, a plurality of interactive e-books, and a plurality of interactive magazines; the media distribution server communicates the interactive media to at least one of the plurality of digital devices that comprises a client application capable of presenting them to a user, wherein the client application is capable of not only presenting such interactive media to a user but also capable of locally processing user inputs and controlling the navigation through the various portions of the interactive media; and the media distribution server receives requests for additional portions or alternate portions of the interactive media from the client application, retrieves them and communicates them to the client application.
 30. The media distribution server of claim 28 further comprising: the media distribution server retrieves interactive ebooks from the content provider system and stores them locally; the media distribution server distributes the interactive ebooks to at least one of the digital devices; the media distribution server supports interaction with the users based on the interactive ebooks. the media distribution server collects and stores comments and annotations gathered by the at least one of the digital devices for the interactive ebooks; and the media distribution server selectively shares those comments, annotations with the content provider system or with an external server, as necessary, based on user preferences. 